Product Description

When mattie Gokey is given a bundle of letters to burn she fully intends to execute the wishes of the giver, Grace Brown. When Grace Brown is found drowned the next day in Big Moose Lake, Mattie finds that it is not as easy to burn those letters as she had thought. And, as she reads, a riveting story emerges - not only Grace Brown's story but also Mattie's hopes and ambitions for the future and her relationships with her friends and family. Published to widespread acclaim this wonderful novel, part murder mystery and part coming-of-age story, is an astounding and accomplished piece of literature. The reviews say it all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3382 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Review
'The wonderfully confident debut by Jennifer Donnelly.' Lindsay Fraser, Sunday Herald 'A GATHERING LIGHT is a remarkable debut, a book that sweeps across the genre boundaries of murder, mystery, romance, and historical fiction - resulting in an original novel that is both gripping and touching.' Scott Turow 'If ever a book deserved to cross over, this is it this is a wonderfully rich, involving and beautifully written book.' Adele Geras, Guardian 'Part history, part compelling murder mystery, Jennifer Donnelly's A GATHERING LIGHT brings the past to powerful and vivid life.' Celia Rees

Synopsis
When mattie Gokey is given a bundle of letters to burn she fully intends to execute the wishes of the giver, Grace Brown. When Grace Brown is found drowned the next day in Big Moose Lake, Mattie finds that it is not as easy to burn those letters as she had thought. And, as she reads, a riveting story emerges - not only Grace Brown's story but also Mattie's hopes and ambitions for the future and her relationships with her friends and family. Published to widespread acclaim this wonderful novel, part murder mystery and part coming-of-age story, is an astounding and accomplished piece of literature. The reviews say it all.

From the Publisher
'A Gathering Light is a remarkable debut, a book that sweeps across the genre boundaries of murder, mystery, romance, and historical fiction - resulting in an original novel that is both gripping and touching.' SCOTT TUROW

Customer Reviews

Outstanding
A fantastic piece of writing that I enjoyed immensely. The blurb talks about it being based on a real murder at the turn of the century - this is at the start of the 1900s. The person murdered is a young girl who is read about by Mattie through her letters. Mattie wants to become a writer and is great friends with Weaver who is an academic like herself. Naturally her teacher becomes her greatest influence and Mattie would do anything to be able to read more material and write. Or would she? Her life is mapped out for her already - live in the neighbourhood, acquire a husband and children and in the meantime continue to look after her own family.

I enjoyed reading about Mattie's life and the decisions she made. The reader always feels involved, almost as if Mattie has consulted you. I loved her teacher and I really felt for her later on in the novel; there was something about Donnelly's writing style that evoked real emotions concerning the teacher, Miss Wilcox. Mattie's determination is fabulous, I could see her every morning taking down the big dictionary that had belonged to her mother and choosing the word for the day. The letters Mattie reads have a powerful effect on her, and on the reader. We learn a lot more about Mattie through these letters. The lives of the murdered girl and Mattie become entwined and when Mattie learns about how she has drowned it is only then that she makes her final decision.

I would not be able to do justice in a review to the quality of writing. I actually sat for four hours to read this book as I genuinely did not want to put it down and miss a minute. I could just have easily started straight again from the beginning and found other clues as to paths Mattie could have taken. I thought the relationship with her friend Weaver was beautifully written and the heartache he goes through is shared by her. She is a wonderful character with many strengths, it would be nice to read a sequel to her life. For those interested in the actual murder that is the basis for the novel, there is information about it at the back, with some notes from the author.

Just average
I was disappointed by this book. I bought it because of the reviews on the cover (the George Clooney remark!), expecting it to be really good, but I found it just average. It was an age-old storyline (should the main character marry someone she doesn't love, or follow her dreams?) and I didn't warm to the characters much or like the atmosphere. The only thing really that got my attention was the historical notes at the end which explained about the murder and the fate of the murderer.
Maybe I should read it again - it was a few years ago that I read it. But I just find it frustrating that some books, like this one, receive all the official rave reviews and awards (and maybe it does deserve some of them, maybe it's just difference of opinion) whilst so many others, especially those for young adults, don't get a look in just because people haven't heard of them. I got this book from the young adult section of the bookshop - I don't know if it is intended for young adults - but it seems that often the young adult books that (adult) reviewers praise are not the ones that are popular among young adults (and don't say that's just because we're too young to know what makes a good book!).

MASTERPIECE
This book is truly a masterpiece.

I found myself being dragged into the story with Mattie, feeling her hurt, experiencing her love, hope and disappointment. I wanted to reach out to help her and Grace Brown. I couldn't put the book down and was sorely disappointed when I reached the last page and it was all over.

If you haven't all ready read this book I would highly reccomend it to you!